May 30, 2020

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The Chapelwood Lake Jackson United Methodist Church Response to The Coronavirus



At Chapelwood UMC, we want to care for our congregation in all respects, including the physical well-being of our community. To that end, we are asking you, our congregants, to take precautions to keep yourself and others safe.

 

We have suspended of our worship services and all programming at our church, including the preschool, through Monday, June 1, 2020.

 

Our services will continue to be online. As we look at reopening and probably even after we physically open the church many of our services will continue to be online. You will continue to receive information on the various services dates and times.

 

As a church leadership we are beginning our plans and preparations to reopen our church in the “new normal.” Chapelwood will follow the public guidance and restrictions of the governing authorities.

 

There are many key factors being considered including capacity, at-risk people and required social distancing. A new term is “people density” in any gathering. Current guidelines will severely restrict the number of people allow for an in-person worship service or any other church activity.

 

Our current plan is to start our re-opening process on Monday, June 1.

 

In all cases we will have specific guidelines. 

 

Our current Chapelwood UMC re-opening plan:

 

June 1 -- Re-open the Church offices with NO scheduled church group meetings or activities.

 

June 7 and June 14 -- Provide a modified in person worship service.

 

June 8 – Re-opening the preschool for their summer program plus activities in the parking lot.

 

June 15 -- Open the church campus to all groups. 

 

After June 1, we will continue with an online service (not live; taped; but designed as we are currently doing for the current online live service. Not a tape of the actual in person service).

 

June 7 and 14 in person modified worship services:

 

We will provide additional details next week

 

One service at 10AM

 

Social Distancing of 6-10 feet (limited capacity)

 

Current guidelines and restrictions…. NO…. touching, hugging, choir, communion, singing, children time, nursery, grow hour, youth or children activities, coffee or refreshments. 

 

We have delayed numerous actions and plans at the church due to the pandemic. Examples are the feedback from listening sessions, moving forward with one board model, etc. These activities will continue once we are "re-opened" as a church.

 

Financially we are holding our own, but it very much depends on our members to continue their contributions and for minimizing non-critical spending. To preserve cash, we have decided to defer apportionment payments for the next few months. Our approach is to pay apportionments in full for 2020.

 

A Request – We need your continued financial support. Our church is fortunate to have a limited cash reserve and no debt. Some churches are having to look at reducing, cutting people and expenses. Our church will meet our expenses and payroll through July 31, 2020. This includes the expenses and payroll for the preschool. We are looking at additional actions to preserve our cash. 

 

We need to continue to faithfully give to the church. You can mail your giving and/or drop off to the church office. We will monitor the office daily. You can give online thru our Church website: www.chapelwoodumc.org.

 

As always, we want to support you through prayer and spiritual support. Our pastors are making pastoral care visits as needed. If you would like a pastor or staff member to reach out to you, please let us know. We have pastors and staff who will be responding to the prayer requests, concerns or needs that are sent to the church.

 

 

 

In Christ,

Chapelwood UMC Staff